BOSTON — Governors hamstrung by the sluggish economic rebound in their states and bound to balance their own budgets are pressing for Washington to step up with more help, some say even if it means adding to the nation’s red ink.
Governors headed to Boston for the weekend ready to share ideas on a range of issues, but the economy dominated the discussions.
“All states still are facing tough fiscal situations, even though I do believe we’re in recovery,” said West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, a Democrat who is taking over as chairman of the National Governors Association.
Added Gov. Jim Douglas, R-Vt., the outgoing chairman: “Governors have done what is necessary to get through this” — cutting budgets, restructuring government, laying off workers and draining rainy-day funds.
Both men said states can’t continue to climb out of the recession alone, and the NGA renewed its bipartisan appeal for Congress to pass stalled jobs legislation that includes billions of dollars in aid to states.
States are expected to have faced $296.6 billion in shortfalls between the 2009 and 2012 budget years.
A report last month by the NGA and the National Association of State Budget Officers found that the new budget year will be just as challenging, despite the expectation of modest increases in tax collections. The Associated Press
